Steven Wilson, 25, of Whitemere Gardens, Gateshead, died of multiple stab wounds following an attack in Fellgate Gardens, Wardley, soon after midnight on Saturday.

His mother, Freda, described her son as hard working and fun loving.

She said: “He always had a huge smile on his face and was considerate and loyal to his friends and his family.

“His sister is about to give birth to her first child and Steven was desperately looking forward to becoming an uncle.”

Steven’s grieving parents, Freda and David today told of their shock over the death of their son.

Freda said she is so proud of her only son, the youngest of three children, and described how he had an ambition to work for himself and have his own business.

“He loved buying and working on old cars and motorbikes,” she said. “Steven would often spend more on repairing a vehicle than it was worth.”

The family are devastated and angry about comments made in some newspapers about Steven that they feel are based on no fact.

His dad, David, added: “My son was no thug, he was a gent and I loved him. This has ruined my life. I can't believe what some people are saying about him.”

The house was full of flowers and cards from friends and neighbours in support of the family. His family say many people have telephoned the family to express their anger at how Stephen has been portrayed.

Today the family thanked people who have supported them and to the police who have offered support and assistance throughout.

Detectives are still trying to establish what happened after violence flared among near neighbours on the same estate. It is understood an argument broke out in The Ship Inn, Gateshead, which then spilled outside.

There was a clash at the home of a man, after two men went to his home with a baseball bat and an axe. Mr Wilson later suffered multiple stab wounds.

Also appearing was Steve Gray, 20, of Whitemere Gardens, who is charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Steven’s death was one of three separate knife attacks which took place on Tyneside over the weekend.

Steven was found dying in Fellgate Gardens, Wardley, at around 1am on Saturday.

He was rushed to the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital but died at 7am.

Two knives, an axe and a baseball bat and were found in the Fellgate Gardens area by officers.

Police have been reviewing CCTV footage from the pub and for the mile-long walk to Fellgate Gardens.

Det Chief Insp Mark Anastasi, heading the murder investigation, said: “We would ask any witnesses who were in the area that night to come forward as we are still trying to piece together the events which led to the tragedy.”

Meanwhile, officers are investigating two separate knife attacks which also took place on Saturday.

In the first a 24-year-old man was knifed in the back during a scuffle with three muggers at 1.35am in Oxford Avenue, South Shields.

Police are appealing for witnesses and in particular the driver of a dark family saloon car which drove along Oxford Avenue just prior to the incident.

Four people have also been questioned after a 22-year-old man, from Slatyford, Newcastle, was stabbed during a disturbance at Newbiggin Hall Estate, at 4.30am.

Three males, aged 14, 21 and 23, and a 24-year-old woman, from Newcastle, were arrested then released on police bail pending further inquiries yesterday.

The stabbed man is in a stable condition in Newcastle General Hospital .